Smith Mountain Lake

Smith Mountain Lake
Location	Bedford / Franklin / Pittsylvania counties, Virginia, USA
Coordinates	37°02′28″N 79°32′07″W
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Roanoke River, Blackwater River
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	32 sq mi (83 km2)
Average depth	55 ft (17 m)
Max. depth	250 ft (76 m)
Water volume	2.8 km3 (2,300,000 acre·ft)
Shore length1	500 mi (800 km)
Surface elevation	795 ft (242 m)
References
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Smith Mountain Lake is a large reservoir in the Roanoke Region of Virginia, located southeast of the City of Roanoke and southwest of Lynchburg. The lake was created in 1963 by the Smith Mountain Dam impounding the Roanoke River. The majority of the south shore of the lake lies in Franklin County while a portion, including access to the dam, lies in Pittsylvania County. The lake has become a popular recreation spot and has also experienced significant development in the last decade. It is the largest man-made lake in the entire state of Virginia.

History

Further information: Smith Mountain Dam

Initial proposals were made in the late 1920s to dam the Roanoke River and the Blackwater River at the Smith Mountain gorge to generate electricity. Construction on the Smith Mountain Dam began in 1960 and was completed in 1963. The lake reached its normal water level in March 1966. The lake is 20,600 acres (83 km²) and has over 500 miles (800 km) of shoreline. The north shore of the lake lies entirely in Bedford County.

Development

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the area around Smith Mountain Lake remained rural and remote with tobacco farms and other agriculture. Marinas provided the bulk of public access in the early years of the lake. The limited early residential developments around the lake consisted largely of small trailer parks and modest houses. However, residential growth has been steady since the mid-1980s and increasingly upscale with large lakefront houses, condominiums, and communities centered around golf courses. The lake has both attracted those who commute to Roanoke and Lynchburg and retirees, many of whom have relocated from the Northeast. By the late 1990s, the number and affluence of the new residents resulted in the construction of new retail and commercial developments near the lake. Recent shoreline development has been limited to residential construction. With the enactment of Federal oversight of shoreline development in 1998 coupled with soaring real estate values, there is an escalating loss of public access to the lake as the lake's marinas are sold for residential development.

State Route 122 is the only primary highway that crosses the lake, though State Route 24, State Route 116, and State Route 40 are nearby.

Licensing

AEP is licensed to operate the Smith Mountain Project by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The initial license term was for fifty years. In 1998, AEP began the process of relicensing. Under the requirements of relicensing, AEP was required to perform numerous studies to determine management requirements during the upcoming license term. In December, 2009 the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted Appalachian Power a new license to operate the hydro-electricity plant. The new 30-year license replaces the original 50-year license and addresses recreational and environmental management.

Shoreline management

In 1998, the FERC required AEP to devise and implement a shoreline management plan. The Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) limits the development of all property within the "project boundary." Local zoning regulations have been effectively superseded by the SMP regulations. AEP acts as the permitting agency. Any variance requests are reviewed by interested State and Federal agencies such as Virginia Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries. Disagreements must first proceed to the FERC, then be appealed through the Federal Judicial System.

The SMP has been controversial for several reasons:

• AEP claims to own the property within the project boundary. However, AEP only acquired flowage easements for much of the property. Many private property owners objected under the opinion that the Federal Government, leveraging AEP's claim to property ownership, has usurped private property rights.
• While the SMP was under development, AEP was required to consult with various "stakeholders" affected by the plan. Marina operators were significant objectors to the process, since no marina operators were consulted until very late in the process, and then, only indirectly via the chamber of commerce and after protest.
• Although the SMP deals largely with the design of docks, dock builders were only consulted very late in the process and only indirectly via the chamber of commerce.
• In addition to marina operators and dock builders being initially left out of the process, only one property developer was represented. However, several representatives of area home owner associations, which are often at odds with residential and commercial development, did participate starting early in the process.
• While AEP verbally stated it does not intend to charge annual fees to maintain property owners' dock "privileges", AEP reserves its right to do so in the SMP.
• There is concern that, since the project is licensed by the FERC, that AEP is more concerned with Federal issues than local matters. Objectors claim that the terms of the SMP do not hold AEP accountable to local concerns. For example, there is no requirement for AEP to process a permit application in a timely manner (as is required by the state for local zoning.)
• Objectors claim that the SMP assumes AEP's goodwill due to lack of any practical checks against AEP and FERC oversight. While AEP's decisions can be argued in the court system, the burden of legal costs on individuals have prevented any practical lawsuits.
• Docks existing prior to the implementation of the SMP are not entirely grandfathered; only the "footprint" of the existing docks and only then if the docks are well-maintained. For example, enclosures exceeding the current SMP requirements will not be permitted to be replaced.

Out of growing concern and frustration with AEP management and FERC oversight, SMPreview.com has been created to keep the community up-to-date on shoreline management issues.

Geography

The area lies in a broad valley nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of rural south-central Virginia. Before the lake's creation, farming and logging were the primary industries. Communities around the lake include Moneta, Huddleston, Union Hall, White House, Penhook and Goodview. There is no post office with a Smith Mountain Lake mailing address. The Booker T. Washington National Monument is near the west end of the lake.

The level of the lake varies during the day and night, as water flows through (and is pumped back through) the dam. The normal maximum level of the lake (also known as "Full Pond") is regulated to 795 feet (242.32 meters) above sea level. The normal observed level (also known as "normal pond") is 794.20 feet (242.07 meters). The level can be significantly lower during periods of extended drought. Lake levels were about six feet below normal from time to time, during the years 2001 to 2003, after five years of below-average rainfall.

Recreation

Smith Mountain Lake has become a popular recreational area. Boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, riding personal watercraft, and sailing are common activities as is fishing, especially for striped bass. The lake has hosted several professional fishing tournaments. Smith Mountain Lake State Park opened in 1983 and provided a beach and a section for swimming. Golf at one of the several nearby courses is a popular landside activity.

Recreational Access

The majority of access to the lake is through private residential property. Marinas provide the majority of public access, but are increasingly being converted to private, residential developments due to economic and regulatory pressure. Recreation Use Assessment. The Smith Mountain Lake State Park (located on the Bedford County side of the lake off of Smith Mountain Parkway—Route 626), the Smith Mountain Community Park (located on the Franklin County side of Smith Mountain Lake) and several government managed boat ramps also provide public access.

Marinas with Public Services

• Parkway Marina - Boat Rentals, Boat Ramp, Fuel and a Ship's Store are available to the general public
• Bridgewater Marina - Boat Rentals, Fuel and a Ship's Store are available to the general public
• Smith Mountain Dock & Lodge - Boat Rentals, Fuel and a Ship's Store are available to the general public
• Mitchels Point Marina - Boat Rentals, Fuel and a Ship's Store are available to the general public
• Sportsmans Marina - Full-Service Restaurant, Boat Rentals, and Fuel are available to the general public

Popular events

• Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce Beach Bash - Held August 21, this event features beach music and local wineries and micro-brewers.
• The Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival - Held the last Saturday and Sunday in September, the 2011 celebration will be held September 24 & 25. Each year 27 Virginia-based wineries participate, as well as 85 food and craft vendors.
• Smith Mountain Lake Fireworks and Fire Company Fundraiser - Established by Parkway Marina in 1991, the Saunders Volunteer Fire Company has organized the event since 2001 as a fundraiser. The first fireworks display was presented by Smith Mtn Lake Dock & Lodge in the 1980s and continued until 2006.
• Tom Maynard Memorial Poker Run
• Charity Home Tour
• Smith Mountain Lake Wakefest & Virginia Commonwealth Games Wakeboarding Tournament hosted by Wake N Skate Pro Wakeboard Shop. For the past six years, on the third Saturday of July thousands gather to watch accomplished wakeboarders in Virginia compete.
• ESPN BASSmasters Elite - First held at Smith Mountain Lake in 2007, this is a major televised tournament attracting professional anglers from through-out the world. The event includes numerous on-site activities for the general public. The 2009 & 2010 event was held at Parkway Marina.
• The Smith Mountain Lake Fall Chili & Craft Festival - A full-day event featuring music, crafts and a spectacular competitive chili cook-off. Held lakeside at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, near the Hales Ford Bridge the first Saturday in November.

In popular culture

The lake was featured prominently in the 1991 movie comedy What About Bob?, directed by Frank Oz and starring Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss and Julie Hagerty. It served as the stand-in for Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.

Horseback riding and alpacas are found at Smith Mountain Lake Farm located near the Smith Mountain Lake dam.

The ESPN Bassmasters tour came through Smith Mountain Lake April 2010.

External links

• Smith Mountain Lake Visitors Center
• SML Dam website
• Graph of SML level, tracked by hour